The Improved Irish Coffee

By ltrodrigu

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons unrefined sugar (preferably Demerara)
• 1 ounce apple brandy
• 7 ounces freshly brewed French press coffee
• 3 ounces heavy whipping cream
• 1 sugar cube
• cinnamon
• orange peel

Details

Servings 1
Adapted from online.wsj.com

Preparation

Step 1

Step 1: Get yourself an Irish Coffee mug. It's probably the only drink you'll serve in it, but an ordinary mug is just too unceremonious and your drink won't look like a mini pint of Guinness. Alternatively, you can go modern with the pictured double-walled Bodum glass. Two for $30, bodum.com

Step 2: Preheat the mug (stick it in the microwave for a few seconds) and add the sugar and the brandy. Laird's apple brandy is suggested. Of course, you could go traditional with Jameson or Bushmills but the apple brandy feels more festive. Personally, if you're going with French press coffee, I'd go with Calvados.

Pour freshly brewed coffee from a French press. Press coffee has a higher density, so the cream floats on top better. Make sure the beans have been ground within the last two weeks. These tend to be much more flavorful.

Fill the mug with coffee, leaving just enough room for cream at the top. Give it a quick stir and make sure the sugar is dissolved.

Step 3: The secret to the recipe is the cream. Make sure you make your own cream in a shaker—this is a cocktail, after all. Pour the heavy whipping cream into a shaker with ice and a sugar cube and shake it like you mean it. Using a spoon, carefully layer it on top of the drink.

Step 4: Garnish with grated cinnamon and an expressed orange peel. The orange brings a nice brightness and freshness to the wintry drink.